Springbank 12 Cask Strength (Batch 26 - 2024 Release)

Springbank 12 Cask Strength (Batch 26 - 2024 Release)

Region: Campbeltown

ABV: 56.2%

Price: £68.00

This year’s 2nd release of Springbank 12 cask strength was matured in a mixture of bourbon casks (60%), Sherry (35%) and Rum (5%). No details on how many bottles were released.

Nose

The nose opens with the classic Campbelltown character, we're finding sea spray, fondant icing, lemon zest, dunnage warehouse mustiness and a fairly prominent bonfire smokiness riding through the dram. Going back, we're finding more toffee and caramel, moving into red berries and a little Turkish delight. It's a very open nose, expressive, and the balance is there - you can tell it's cask strength whisky but it's not overpowering in the slightest.

Palate

The palate opens with quite a lot of upfront sweetness, brown sugar, toffee bon bons, moving into more of the red berries from the nose, raspberry primarily, with some artificial strawberry sauce alongside rhubarb and custard sweeties. There's a nice citric note here, coming more from tart berries rather than citrus fruit. The peat is fairly prominent on the back palate, giving coastal, salty flavours alongside almond marzipan and a light touch of minerality. The mouthfeel is good, not overly textured but there's a creaminess there, and the finish lingers for a reasonable length, ending in dark chocolate and cherry liqueur.

Nose (with water)

The reduced nose amplifies some of the more coastal aromas, alongside the sweeter sugary notes. The peat seems to be diminished somewhat, although it does feel slightly earlier, mixing into those dunnage warehouse aromas. The alcohol is still in good balance and it feels like water hasn't hindered the dram.

Palate (with water)

The reduced palate opens with a bit less sugar than before, but the berry flavours are still quite noticeable. The palate morphs into something a bit oakier and drier than before, darker chocolate, some roasted nuts, and orange bitters. We don't prefer it with water on the palate, but it's not ruined by it.

Conclusion

These 12 year old cask strength releases are consistently high quality drams, and this latest release follows suit. Lots of Campbeltown character, this release veers slightly more on the fruity, sherried side compared to the release earlier this year. You won't be disappointed if you manage to nab a bottle.

Score: 8.5/10

Value

As usual this remains a bargain if you can get it at RRP.

• 10 - Perfection. One in a million
• 9 - Outstanding. Exceptional whisky.
• 8 - Great. Would seek this out.
• 7 - Good. Quality whisky.
• 6 - Above average. Happy to have a dram.
• 5 - Average. Drinkable whisky.
• 4 - Below average. Passable.
• 3 - Flawed. Noticeable negatives.
• 2 - Defective. Significant faults.
• 1 - Offensive. Pour it out.

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